Main navigation

The Nazareth Four: Brothers in Arms

Devonte’, Christian, Cameron & Justin

Nazareth Academy Entrance

LaGrange Park, IL- I always look forward to visiting Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park. It reminds me of my high school days when I attended Fenwick HS in Oak Park. A big difference is Fenwick was boys only while Nazareth is coed. Otherwise, the atmospheres are pretty similar.

The Roadrunners have built quite a football program in recent years as well as currently adding new construction to expand their campus on Ogden Avenue. Head coach Tim Racki is the main architect of the football programs renaissance and I’m not really sure who is behind the new construction’s design. Both are looking pretty, pretty good.

Coach Racki was kind enough to let bergsworld.live sit down and talk with Devonte’ Dunn, Christian Sampleton, Justin Weller and Cameron Weems. All are juniors who played pivotal roles in the 2015 IHSA 5A state championship and look to “3 Peat” in the 2016 season. Listen as they discuss God, family, school and football. Thanks gentlemen, it was our pleasure.

President Dennis Moran, Principal Deborah Tracy and Coach Racki

Roadrunners warming up for St. Laurence

Naz campus under construction in January 2016

DD waiting on helmet repair from Coach Larry White

Christian Sampleton before the 5A championship game

Dunn Family celebrating at pep rally at Naz

LISTENto Dunn, Sampleton, Weller and Weems in a very candid interview:

The Nazareth Four added quite nicely to their football resumes in the 2015 championship season. Roadrunner fans saw them go 12-2 while putting an asterisk on the campaign with a thumping of a very good New Lenox Lincoln-Way West HS team in the final, 42-21. Personal awards followed: Dunn and Sampleton were All-East Suburban Catholic Conference selections. While Weller shared the MVP of the finals with current Oswego East HS running back Ivory Kelly-Martin.

Sampleton

Weller

Weems

Dunn

A key part of the Naz Four’s development and journey to Nazareth Academy came from playing with the Patriots Youth Travel Football program. Doug DiFusco, is a head coach of the Patriots and an assistant to Coach Racki at Nazareth. DiFusco points to the important roles Dunn, Sampleton, Weller and Weems played on the 2012 PYTF 14U All American National Championship Team. All four young men showed everyone that watched this 2012 juggernaut dominate their opponents, that they would develop into top high school players. And they did. The Naz Four speak very highly of the time they spent participating with the PYTF program.

Team managers before championship game in DeKalb

Roadrunners getting set for celebration

Naz cheerleaders looking sharp

Tom Kelly

Coach Racki, Dr. Tom Nelson and team chaplain Bob Esposito

Brendan Green and Coach Racki

WATCH these videos from DeKalb at the Championship Game and LaGrange Park at the Fall Sports Awards Pep Rally: